is a Denver-based firm that emphasizes a team approach to its design. Their work previously has been honored for excellence in historic renovation, including in performing arts venues.
Funded by visionary philanthropist Roe Green, the University Theatre will undergo renovation via CU Boulder Today, additional reporting by Becca Vaclavik Last September, University of Colorado alumna, arts aficionado and philanthropist Roe Green announced she would provide a record-breaking $5 million gift to the CU Boulder Department of Theatre & Dance. The largest portion of Green’s gift, $2 million, will support an acoustic overhaul of the current University Theatre space. Colorado Shakespeare Festival audiences will recognize it as our indoor venue, where we are presenting All’s Well That Ends Well and Coriolanus this season. Built in 1904, the building was originally constructed as the campus library and helped define the historic Norlin Quadrangle. With the last major renovation over 30 years ago, once-new elements of the theatre’s architecture and equipment are now out of date. New 18
2022 Colorado Shakespeare Festival
Green is one of CU Boulder’s largest arts donors to date, having previously established the Roe Green Theatre Artist Residency Program and the theatre department’s first endowed faculty chair. Outside of CU, she has given gifts to name the Roe Green Center for the School of Theatre and Dance at Kent State University. She also funds the Roe Green Traveling Masters Program, a national education program on the craft of stage writing produced by the New York City-based Dramatists Guild Foundation. Professor Bud Coleman, the Roe Green Endowed Chair in Theatre, has worked with Green for almost 20 years to address the needs of the CU Department of Theatre & Dance.
structures and equipment will allow for better acoustic performance and noise control, creating a more immersive audience experience.
“She is more than a fairy godmother; she is our celebrated alumna, beneficent donor and lifelong friend,” he said.
To recognize Green’s generosity, the university will change the name of the University Theatre to the Roe Green Theatre. After a period of renovations set to kick off this fall, the theatre is expected to formally reopen under its new name in the fall of 2023.
“Acoustics are such an important part of enjoying the language of Shakespeare, and this remodel will make an already wonderful venue an even better place to experience live theatre,” added CSF Producing Artistic Director Tim Orr.
“We are thrilled and inspired by Roe’s gift of transformation for the indoor theatre,” said CSF Managing Director Wendy Franz. “Construction will begin as soon as CSF’s 2022 season closes, and we’ll move into the newly renovated theatre for CSF’s 2023 season.”
Green continues to support CU Boulder and other theatre programs around the country because of her strong belief in the power of storytelling.
The architect selected for the renovation, Architectural Workshop,
Image rendering by Architectural Workshop
“Theatre and the performing arts make us human,” she said. “This is how we pass on what we know.”
